Developed based on a thorough review of the scientific evidence, NutraOrigin’s Viritex formula includes only ingredients with documented efficacy and safety, and contains no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. The ingredients described below will give you a better understanding of how this product fuels desire and improves sexual performance.*
Click to view Product Research
Tribulus Terrestris
Tribulus terrestris is a flowering plant native to temperate and tropical regions of southern Europe and Asia, Africa and northern Australia. It has a long history of traditional use in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine to support libido.*
Bulgarian scientists were the first to research the herb for that purpose in the mid 1970s. They found that an extract of tribulus increased levels of the hormones testosterone and DHEA, thus benefitting sexual function.* (1) A recently published study analyzing the effects of Tribulus terrestris on hormone levels validated the earlier research. After researchers injected primates with an extract of the herb, their testosterone levels increased 52% and their DHEA levels rose 29%.* (2)
Animal research has also shown that tribulus increases desire.* (3,4,5) In fact, according to a review article by esteemed herbalist Kerry Bone, one study showed tribulus caused a 71% improvement in libido.* (6)
Maca Root (Lepidium Meyenii)
Growing at 14,500 feet above sea level, no other crop in the world is cultivated at a higher altitude than Lepidium meyenii. Indigenous cultures of the Andes have used the herb to enhance vitality for more than 5,800 years.* Preliminary human research indicates that Lepidium meyenii may increase semen volume, sperm count and sperm motility.* (7)
Epimedium (Horny Goat Weed)
Epimedium, which grows in Asia and the Mediterranean, is also known as horny goat weed. It gets its nickname from folk observations that goats that grazed on the herb became especially frisky. The herb has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a tonic to stimulate desire, enhance sexual performance and benefit overall well-being.*
Icariin, the active compound in Epimedium, inhibits the activity of the enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5).* (8,9) This enzyme degrades a substance called cyclic GMP, which plays an important role in vasodilation. PDE-5 inhibitors are therefore effective for increasing blood flow.*
Mucuna Pruriens
Mucuna pruriens is a tropical legume. Throughout history, Mucuna has been used as an aphrodisiac.* Modern research may explain why. In an animal model, mucuna has been shown to significantly raise levels of dopamine — a neurotransmitter that stimulates sex drive — in the brain.* (10) One study found that mucuna “produced a striking and substantial increase of sexual activity” in normal rats.* (11)
Tongkat Ali
Eurycoma longifolia Jack, commonly called longjack or tongkat ali, is an herb native to Indonesia and Malaysia. Traditionally, Southeast Asians have utilized the herb for its aphrodisiac properties, while Malaysians relied on it for enhanced virility, sexual prowess and sexual performance.*
Several studies have shown that tongkat ali heightens arousal in test animals, increases initiation of sexual acts, enhances sexual qualities and improves sexual performance.* (12,13,14,15,16) One study found the herb significantly increased sperm counts and testosterone levels.* (17)
6, 7, -Dihydroxybergamottin
You’ve probably heard that if you are taking certain prescription drugs, drinking grapefruit juice could multiply their effects. The reason has to do with 6, 7, -dihydroxybergamottin (DHB).
DHB belongs to a class of organic chemical compounds found in grapefruit juice called furanocoumarins. Researchers believe DHB is the main component in grapefruit juice responsible for potentiating the action of certain drugs.* It works by inhibiting enzymes that break down drugs, so that a greater amount of the drug reaches the bloodstream.* Adding DHB to Viritex may increase the potency of the other ingredients.* (18,19,20)
Close window
- EPSCO CAM Medical Review Board. Tribulus terrestris. Reviewed Sept. 2009. Sponsored by iHerb.com. http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx
?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=21872
- Gauthaman K, Ganesan AP. The hormonal effects of Tribulus terrestris and its role in the management of male erectile dysfunction--an evaluation using primates, rabbit and rat. Phytomedicine. 2008 Jan;15(1-2):44-54.
- Gauthaman K, Ganesan AP, Prasad RN. Sexual effects of puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) extract (protodioscin): an evaluation using a rat model. J Altern Complement Med. 2003 Apr;9(2):257-65.
- Gauthaman K, Adaikan PG, Prasad RN. Aphrodisiac properties of Tribulus Terrestris extract (Protodioscin) in normal and castrated rats. Life Sci. 2002 Aug 9;71(12):1385-96.
- Adaikan PG, et al. Proerectile pharmacological effects of Tribulus terrestris extract on the rabbit corpus cavernosum. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2000 Jan;29(1):22-6.
- Bone, Kerry. "Tribulus for sexual dysfunction in men and women." Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients. Dec. 2004. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_257/ai_n7638039/?tag=content;col1
- Gonzales G.F., Cordova A., Gonzales C., et al. Lepidium meyenii (Maca) improved semen parameters in adult men. Asian J Androl. 2001 Dec;3(4):301-3.
- Ning, H., Xin, Z., Lin, G., Banie, L., Lue, T.F., Lin, C., et al. "Effects of icariin on phosphodiesterase-5 activity in vitro and cyclic guanosine monophosphate level in cavernous smooth muscle cells." Urology (2006) 68(6), 1350-4.
- Xin, Z.C., Kim, E.K., Lin, C.S., Liu, W.J., Tian, L., Yuan, Y.M., et al. "Effects of icariin on cGMP-specific PDE5 and cAMP-specific PDE4 activities." Asian Journal of Andrology (2003) 5(1): 15-8.
- Manyam B.V., Dhanasekaran M., Hare T.A. "Effect of antiparkinson drug HP-200 (Mucuna pruriens) on the central monoaminergic neurotransmitters." (2004) Phytother Res 18: 97-101.Close window
- Amin K.M.Y., Khan M.N., Zillur-Rehman S., et. al. (1996) "Sexual function improving effect of Mucuna pruriens in sexually normal male rats" Fitoterapia, 67(1): 53-58.
- Ang H.H., Ngai T.H., Tan T.H. "Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack on sexual qualities in middle aged male rats" Phytomedicine (2003) 10 (6-7): 590-3.
- Ang H.H., Cheang H.S., Yusof A.P. "Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (tongkat ali) on the initiation of sexual performance of inexperienced castrated male rats" Exp Anim (2000) 49 (1): 35-8.
- Ang H.H., Lee K.L., Kiyoshi M. "Sexual arousal in sexually sluggish old male rats after oral administration of Eurycoma longifolia Jack" J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol (2004) 15 (3-4): 303-9.
- Ang H.H., Lee K.L. "Effect of Eurycoma longifolia Jack on orientation activities in middle-aged male rats" Fundam Clin Pharmacol (2002 Dec) 16 (6): 479-83.
- Ang H.H., Cheang H.S., Yusof A.P. "Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (tongkat ali) on the initiation of sexual performance of inexperienced castrated male rats" Exp Anim. (2000 Jan) 49 (1): 35-8.
- Chan KL, et al. "The effect of Eurycoma longifolia on sperm quality of male rats." Nat Prod Commun. 2009 Oct;4(10):1331-6.
- Bailey D.G., Malcolm J., Arnold O., Spence, J.D. "Grapefruit juice - drug interactions" Br J Clin Pharmacol (1998) 46: 101-110.
- Girennavar B., Poulose S.M., Jayaprakasha G.K., Bhat N.G., Patila B.S. "Furocoumarins from grapefruit juice and their effect on human CYP 3A4 and CYP 1B1 isoenzymes" Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry (2006) 14: 2606-2612.
- Row E.C., Brown S.A., Stachulski A.V., Lennard M.S. "Design, synthesis and evaluation of furanocoumarin monomers as inhibitors of CYP3A4" Org. Biomol. Chem. (2006) 4: 1604-1610.
Close window